Page 6 of Lucas
We’d only been at Oasis for three days, but somehow, the lake had become our special place. It was a peaceful spot several yards from the path. It bordered a tiny cove where the ducks hung out. Sometimes I’d catch a few with their tailfeathers poking straight into the air as they searched for food in the weedy bottom of the shallow water.
I caught the hint of red through the grass. Lucas always brought two blankets. One to lay on and a second one we’d roll into a shared pillow. I hurried my steps when the scent of something grilled tickled my nose. The picnic basket sat in the middle of the blankets, a bouquet of jasmine lying next to it.
Before I reached the blanket, someone grabbed my waist and hauled me behind a tree. I giggled as the manly scent of the woods hit me.
Lucas.
His lips were on mine before I could take another breath. I hugged him tight, reveling in the warmth of his body and the tingling sensation that swarmed over me as his hands roamed freely until they landed on my ass. Then he pressed me against him as his kiss deepened.
When we came up for air, he didn’t release me but held me against the tree.
“If it was evening, I’d have you stripped before you whispered my name.”
“Why would we wait for evening?” I teased.
His brows wiggled. “You are daring, Miss Morrison.” He stole another kiss.
“Everyone’s in meetings or training. Who’s to see?”
He chuckled and stepped back, pulling me with him. “Security is doing sweeps through the entire property. Not that I mind, but word will get back to Simone.”
I sighed. “She really needs a date.”
This time his laughter filled the air. “Come on, before the brie gets cold. The insulated container won’t keep it warm and gooey for long.”
The fact he said “gooey” made me gooey inside. I don’t think he’d ever used the word before he met me.
We ate the brie with rosemary crackers, sipped raspberry iced tea, and shared a grilled roast beef sandwich stuffed with sauteed veggies. Then we lay on the blanket, our heads on our makeshift pillow, holding hands, and staring at the cloudless blue sky as birds twittered around us.
After ten minutes, he sprang up. “I almost forgot.” He scrounged in the picnic basket and tossed me a small plastic container.
I popped the lid, already knowing what was inside. Sure enough—duck food.
I laughed and jumped up. “Let’s go.”
He sighed, but he was grinning when he chased after me. We sat on a patch of grass while I tossed pellets to the ducks, who devoured them within seconds.
“Devon and I spoke this afternoon.”
I threw a few pellets to a duck who wasn’t getting his fair share. “Oh.” I tried to keep my voice light. I knew what was coming, though I’d hoped for more time before he left, but he was obsessed with tracking down the book. “How long will you be gone?”
He glanced at me, then took a handful of pellets and tossed them one by one into the water. The ducks paddled furiously as they tried to gobble each one up before another duck got to it.
“You always seem to know everything happening in the Family. Did Cressa say something?”
“She didn’t have to. I know how important the book is.”
He slid an arm around my waist, and I leaned my head against his shoulder. “Devon and I spoke about the book this morning. We reviewed the locations of all the Renaud libraries and annexes in the States and came up with a short list of which ones should be visited. A handful are close to some of Philipe’s known contacts.”
“That makes sense he’d have friends near the libraries. Will you try to reach out to them?”
“I’d be foolish not to, assuming they’re willing to talk to me.”
I laughed, but it came out strangled. “Who wouldn’t want to talk to you? You’re kind of irresistible.”
He released the container from my tight grip and put the lid on. Then he turned me to him. Our eyes met, and I did my best not to tear up. It wasn’t just that he was leaving. He’d left on other assignments since we’d been seeing each other. But Lorenzo was out there. He had to know Devon would be sending someone to the libraries.
“You’re not going alone, are you? The partner requirement is in play when one of the Family is traveling, right?”
